Illuminated mirror clock



Dec. 19, 1950 M. OWEN 2,534,877

ILLUMINATED MIRROR CLOCK Filed Sept. 13, 1946 1. .5. 4 z- 3 A jem-sazfzzm 28 BY v m j $4 5W ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

- i i i 2,534,877 ILLUMINATED MIRROR CLOCK Lewis M. Owen, New York, N. Y.

Application September 13, 1946, Serial No. 696,806

3 Claims. 1

It is among the objects of my invention to provide an article that serves both as a mirror and a clock, that is neatand compact and relatively simple and inexpensive to construct.

Another object is to provide a clock, the case of which affords a relatively large uninterrupted mirror surface with a relatively large diameter clock dial of good visibility, all in a single unitary fiat construction suitable for hanging in the manner of a simple wall mirror.

According to the invention, these objects are accomplished by the arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described and particularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one or more of the various possible embodiments of the several features Of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device,

7 Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and on a larger scale,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the device,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line 44 of.

Fig. 3, and V Fig. 5 is a sectional view on a greatly enlarged scale of the clock hand taken along line 5-- 5 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the device comprises a rear panel ll preferably circular in shape to which is removably affixed a front panel 12 preferably of glass or other transparent material having at the periphery thereof uniformly spaced figures indicating the hours with the spaces between the hours divided into sections representing equal time intervals.

-The front panel 12 is spaced from the rear panel II by means positioned between the front and rear panel at the peripheries thereof. In the embodiments shown, the spacing means consists of a plurality of blocks 14, affixed by substantially U-shaped brackets It, the arms I! of which straddle the rear panel, the front panel and the block, and clamp said parts rigidly together. Each bracket 16 is affixed to the rear panel by a screw l5 passing therethrough into the corresponding block.

The main central area l8 of the front panel is silvered on the under surface so as to form a mirror, as may be also the time markings I9 at the periphery of the front panel. A substantially annular portion 20 between the time markings l 9 and center portion 18 is unsilvered to expose to view the indicating ends 2| of the ro- 2 e tating hands of a substantially flat electric clock motor which is alfixed to the rear panel at the axis thereof between said rear panel and front panel.

A backing panel 22, preferably of Wood or cardboard having a diameter no greater than that of the silvered center portion I8 is affixed to the underside of the front panel. A small electric bulb or lamp 2V is mounted beneath the front panel at the center thereof in a socket 23 afiixed to said backing panel 22 by screws 24.

A pair of substantially L-shaped arms 25 are affixed at one end to the minute and hour arbors 32, 33 respectively, of clock motor l3. An indicating hand 26 preferably of Lucite or other light conducting material is aflixed to each of said L-shaped arms 25. Arms 25 together with hand 26 are positioned radially with respect to bulb Zi so that the ends 21 of said hands may revolve about said bulb. The indicating ends 2! of the hands 26 are beveled and ground as at 28 so that the light from the bulb which is conducted through hands 26 may be projected therefrom and be clearl visible even in darkness.

In a modified form of the device shown in Figs. 3 and 4, corresponding parts have the same reference numerals primed. Here a doughnut shaped lamp 29 preferably of the fluorescent type, is aflixed to backing panel 22 in place of the small electric bulb or lamp 2W previously described. An annulus 30 of light reflecting material may be affixed to said rear panel, thereby reflecting the light from lamp 29 through the clear annular portion 26 between the center portion l8 and the time markings l9.

When the luminosity of the hands is not required, the bulb or lamp shown in Figs. 2 and 4 could be dispensed with and conventional indicating hands used.

The device herein described is both useful and decorative. The mirrored front panel with the time markings on the periphery thereof is of pleasing appearance. Inasmuch as the article is relatively flat with the clock motor completely contained between the front and rear panels, it can easily be hung on a wall by any conventional means.

In the embodiments shown, the clock hands are illuminated, thereby allowing the time to be seen in the dark. The embodiment shown in Fig. 4 affords considerable light and serves as an indirect lighting fixture in addition to indicating the time. The beveled and ground ends of the clock hands will glow more brightly than the surrounding area, thereby adding to the decorativeness of the article.

Thus, the invention affords in one unit the combined utility of a mirror and a clock, the mirror serving as part of the clock casing and thereby effecting considerable economy as compared to the combined cost of a mirror and clock as separate articles.

In the event the clock requires servicing, it is merely necessary to remove screws l5 which will allow the front and rear panels to be separated, thereby exposing the clock mechanism.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Havin thus escribed my nvention. What I c a m as new and d i to secur by Le t rs Patent of the United States is;

1. An article of the character described comprising a rear panel, a front panel of transparent material having the main central area thereof m r ed and me m rkin n e p riph y thereof, a clear annular portion between said time markings and mirrored center portion, means at the periphery of said front and rear panel to space and hold them parallel to one another, a backing panel afiig ed to the underside of said front panel, said backing panel having a diameter no greater than the diameter of said mirrored center portion, an electric bulb amped, to said backing panel near the center of the front panel, a clock motor afiixed to the rear panel at the center thereof between said front and rear panels and having a minute and hour arbor, a pair of arms afiixed at one end to theminute. and hour arbors respectively, an indicating hand of light conducting material aflixed to each of said arms and extending radially of said front panel, each of said hands being parallel to the front panel and having a beveled and ground edge at one end thereof, the other ends of said indicating hands revolving around said bulb, the beveled ends of said hands being visible in the clear annular portion of said front panel.

2. An article of the character described comprising a rear panel, a front panel of transparent material having the main central area thereof mirrored and time markings on the periphery thereof, a clear annular portion between said time markings and said mirrored center portion, means at the periphery of said front and rear panels to space and hold them parallel to one another, a backing panel affixed to the underside of said front panel, said backing panel having a diameter no greater than the diameter of said mirrored center portion, an annular shaped lamp aflixed to said backing panel near the center of the front panel, an annulus of light reflecting material affixed to said rear panel around the axis thereof, a clock motor affixed to said rear panel at the center thereof between said front and rear panels and having a minute and hour arbor, a pair of arms aifixed at one end to the minute and hour arbors respectively, an indicating hand of light conducting material affixed to each of said arms and extending radially of the front panel, each of said hands being parallel to said front panel and having a beveled and ground edge at one end thereof, the other ends of said indicating hands revolving around said lamp, the beveled ends of said hands being visible in the clear annular portion of said front panel.

3. a clock having a flat casing comprising a rear panel, a front panel of transparent material having the main central area thereof mirror d a ime. markin s at the periphery thereof, a clear annular portion between the time m rkin s and said. m rrored center p rtion, means at the p r phery of. said front and r r panel to space and h d them p rallel to one ano he a backing panel affixed to the underside of said front panel, said backin panel having a diameter no greater than. the diameter of said mirrored center p rtion, n. electri 'bulb afii e to said, backing panel near the center of he front p e a clock motor affixed to. the. rear panel at the center thereof between said front and rear panels, and having a minute and hour arbor, a pair of substantially L-shaped arms affixed at one end to the minute and hour arbors respectively, an indicating hand of light con.- ducting material aflixed to each of said L-shaped arms radially of said front panel, each of said hands being parallel to, the front panel and having a beveled and ground edge at one end thereof, the other ends of said indicating hands revolving around said bu-lb, the beveled ends of" said hands being visible in the clear annular portion of said front panel.

LEWIS M. OWEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following re r n e ar f r cord. in. th file. f t s. patent;

UNITED, STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,656,029 Willens Jan. 10, 1928 2,290,278 Failla July 21, 1942 FQREIGN PATENTS, Number Country Date 3:737:69- Switzerland r Aug. 15., 1905 1.53.244 Switzerland -r June l, 1932 483.125 France Get. 10. 1916 

